your text. What’s up?”
“Well, I wanted to get Mom a really nice gift, but I’m confused about what she’d like. I mean, what do you buy the woman who has everything?”
“Did you ask Dad?”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, he said ‘ask your brother.’”
“Of course he did. What about a weekend getaway for the two of them, like to Napa or something?”
“That’s a great idea! Mom’s always saying how she misses California. Maybe she could visit Aunt Patti when she’s there, too?” I tell Bain.
“It sounds like a great idea to me. Why don’t you look into booking it and let me know if you want to bounce any more ideas around? I gotta run though, we have practice.”
I hang up with my brother, just before telling him about my date with Anthony tonight. I don’t know what I was thinking. Bain’s so protective over me; he would never understand why I am going out with a teacher. Pulling up to the house, my dad is in the garage.
I head towards him rather than going inside. “Hey, kid,” he says, with a smile from ear to ear.
“Hey, Dad. What are you doing?”
“Just cleaning out the car before I head out of town.”
“Where are you going?”
“Philly.”
“Nice, at least you can drive.”
“That’s the truth.”
“Where’s mom?”
“She went to have drinks with some of the girls.”
“Oh good. So I just talked to Bain about what to get her and he gave me the best idea ever. You still have her birthday week off of work right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I can’t tell you, silly. This is for both of you guys.”
“Kinsey, you know I hate surprises,” he says in a firm tone.
“As do I and you always make me deal with them.” I walk off with my dad begging for more details, but I ignore him.
“So you’re dating him,” Aubrey accuses me.
“Hell no. Why would you even say that?”
“I don’t know, maybe because you haven’t been home much this past week.”
I glare at her. “Aubrey, I was gone for the weekend. That’s far from a week. We’ve just chilled together.”
“Well, it sure as hell feels like there’s more going on here.”
I get off the couch to refill my water bottle, honestly wanting to ignore her. “You can deny all you want, but let me ask you this. Why’s this guy so different? I haven’t seen you act like this since Nate.”
“He’s no different than Brady or anyone else. But he’s been through some really fucked up shit, so I’ve been trying to be there for him, and in the process he’s turned out to be a really good friend.”
“You just met him.”
“What’s that matter?”
“Is he your friend or do you fuck?”
“Seriously, Aubrey, what’s your fucking problem? Yeah, we fuck, you know that’s how I am. He’s also a friend. Is that a bad thing?”
She shakes her head, “No, it’s not, I’m just worried about you and trying to figure out why he’s got your head so twisted.”
“Dude, I appreciate your concern, but…” I trail off and decide to head out for a run rather than start an argument with her. She’s only trying to understand things. Plus, I feel Nate pulling me to our spot. Maybe if I go there, I’ll get some answers on how to handle all of this. I know arguing with Aubrey isn’t going to help anything.
I appreciate her concern, I really do, but I need to figure out what’s inside my own head, myself.
“I’m gonna go for a run. Can we talk later?”
“Of course. I don’t want you to be mad at me. I just care about you.”
“I know and I appreciate that. I’ll be back soon.” I give her a hug, then head into my room, putting on a tight pair of black leggings, a hoodie, and my running shoes. Aubrey’s not in the living room when I leave, so I grab my cell phone and bolt. The air is crisp and the sky is gray. It looks like we might get some rain today. I know running in this weather will burn my lungs, but it’ll also take the pain away. We live just a few blocks from the beach and within a
“Well, I wanted to get Mom a really nice gift, but I’m confused about what she’d like. I mean, what do you buy the woman who has everything?”
“Did you ask Dad?”
I can’t help but laugh. “Yeah, he said ‘ask your brother.’”
“Of course he did. What about a weekend getaway for the two of them, like to Napa or something?”
“That’s a great idea! Mom’s always saying how she misses California. Maybe she could visit Aunt Patti when she’s there, too?” I tell Bain.
“It sounds like a great idea to me. Why don’t you look into booking it and let me know if you want to bounce any more ideas around? I gotta run though, we have practice.”
I hang up with my brother, just before telling him about my date with Anthony tonight. I don’t know what I was thinking. Bain’s so protective over me; he would never understand why I am going out with a teacher. Pulling up to the house, my dad is in the garage.
I head towards him rather than going inside. “Hey, kid,” he says, with a smile from ear to ear.
“Hey, Dad. What are you doing?”
“Just cleaning out the car before I head out of town.”
“Where are you going?”
“Philly.”
“Nice, at least you can drive.”
“That’s the truth.”
“Where’s mom?”
“She went to have drinks with some of the girls.”
“Oh good. So I just talked to Bain about what to get her and he gave me the best idea ever. You still have her birthday week off of work right?”
“Yeah, why?”
“I can’t tell you, silly. This is for both of you guys.”
“Kinsey, you know I hate surprises,” he says in a firm tone.
“As do I and you always make me deal with them.” I walk off with my dad begging for more details, but I ignore him.
“So you’re dating him,” Aubrey accuses me.
“Hell no. Why would you even say that?”
“I don’t know, maybe because you haven’t been home much this past week.”
I glare at her. “Aubrey, I was gone for the weekend. That’s far from a week. We’ve just chilled together.”
“Well, it sure as hell feels like there’s more going on here.”
I get off the couch to refill my water bottle, honestly wanting to ignore her. “You can deny all you want, but let me ask you this. Why’s this guy so different? I haven’t seen you act like this since Nate.”
“He’s no different than Brady or anyone else. But he’s been through some really fucked up shit, so I’ve been trying to be there for him, and in the process he’s turned out to be a really good friend.”
“You just met him.”
“What’s that matter?”
“Is he your friend or do you fuck?”
“Seriously, Aubrey, what’s your fucking problem? Yeah, we fuck, you know that’s how I am. He’s also a friend. Is that a bad thing?”
She shakes her head, “No, it’s not, I’m just worried about you and trying to figure out why he’s got your head so twisted.”
“Dude, I appreciate your concern, but…” I trail off and decide to head out for a run rather than start an argument with her. She’s only trying to understand things. Plus, I feel Nate pulling me to our spot. Maybe if I go there, I’ll get some answers on how to handle all of this. I know arguing with Aubrey isn’t going to help anything.
I appreciate her concern, I really do, but I need to figure out what’s inside my own head, myself.
“I’m gonna go for a run. Can we talk later?”
“Of course. I don’t want you to be mad at me. I just care about you.”
“I know and I appreciate that. I’ll be back soon.” I give her a hug, then head into my room, putting on a tight pair of black leggings, a hoodie, and my running shoes. Aubrey’s not in the living room when I leave, so I grab my cell phone and bolt. The air is crisp and the sky is gray. It looks like we might get some rain today. I know running in this weather will burn my lungs, but it’ll also take the pain away. We live just a few blocks from the beach and within a
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